The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea of Gujarat Congress leader Pareshbhai Dhanani against the decision of the Election Commission to hold separate bypolls for two vacant Rajya Sabha seats in the state. The Supreme Court suggested Gujarat Congress may approach the Election Commission in this regard.
The EC had issued two separate notifications and polling for each of the two vacant seats. The EC can now conduct two separate bypolls. The Supreme Court said that it cannot interfere in the matter.
In an affidavit filed in the SC, the EC refuted the allegations of Congress of bias and told the court how separate polls in byelections were held for Rajya Sabha in 2006 as well as in 2009 and how the Delhi High Court as well as Bombay High Court and delivered judgements in EC’s favour both the times.
External Affairs Minister Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar and Jugalji Thakor from Mehsana will be BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Gujarat.
The two Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat were vacated after BJP President Amit Shah and Smriti Irani won Lok Sabha seats from Gandhinagar and Amethi respectively.
The two BJP candidates have reached Gujarat Vidhan Sabha to file their nominations.